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American Airlines Flight 198 from New York to Milan faced disruption due to a passenger's conduct. The aircraft, a Boeing 777-200ER, was midway through its journey when it returned to JFK Airport. According to reports, the incident began when a passenger became upset over not receiving his preferred meal and seat. Subsequently, the passenger's behavior escalated, causing concern for the safety of those onboard, and the flight returned four hours after departure.
An American Airlines spokesperson stated, "American Airlines flight 198 from New York to Milan returned to JFK due to a disruptive passenger. The safety of our customers and team members is our top priority and we expect our customers to comply with federal regulations to follow crew member instructions. We never want to disrupt our customers' travel plans, and we thank them for their understanding."
CBS News reported the incident involved the passenger causing a disturbance and described a scene in the rear of the aircraft where crew members sought help due to the absence of air marshals. Initially, passengers were told the return was due to a technical issue, not the passenger's behavior. The flight landed in New York around 03:00 local time, but passengers had limited assistance before boarding a new flight at 11:21 that same day. The individual responsible was released without being charged.
